Middlesbrough 0-2 Forest

Nottingham Forest produced an outstanding display to run out 2-0 winners against Middlesbrough and pick up their first away win of the season.

Goals from Joe Lolley and Lewis Grabban saw Forest come out on top against one of the league's early pace-setters with a fully deserved victory at the Riverside Stadium.

Forest started the game in a positive manner with Joe Lolley at the centre of things going forward. His jinking run after 11 minutes set up Jack Colback for a strike at goal which sailed over the crossbar and on 20 minutes Lolley was at it again, twisting and turning past five players before seeing his effort saved by Darren Randolph.

Michael Dawson was replaced just after the half-hour mark following a hefty challenge from George Friend which went unpunished, despite leaving The Reds defender stricken on the floor, with Tobias Figueiredo coming on in his place.

Just before half-time Forest almost found the opener that their good play deserved as Gil Dias led a solo counter attack, skipping away from a Mo Besic tackle before being cynically hauled down by Daniel Ayala on the edge of the box. Joao Carvalho stepped up to take the free kick but he couldn't replicate his effort from midweek as it crashed into the side netting.

Forest came out of the blocks at the start of the second half and found the opening goal in spectacular fashion on 50 minutes. Daryl Murphy latched onto the ball in the centre circle and drove forwards, playing it wide for Lolley who fired an unstoppable effort into the roof of the net to send the away end into euphoria.

It was almost two just after the hour mark as Lolley once again got an effort in on goal, volleying at the back post but Randolph saved well, and The Reds were indebted to a fine save from Costel Pantilimon on 68.

Former Forest man Britt Assombalonga, on as a sub on the hour, was played through on goal but his effort lacked conviction and Pantilimon got down well to save.

With 20 minutes to go, Lewis Grabban came off the bench to replace Murphy and it porved to be a crucial move as he netted the crucial second goal just six mintues later. Lolley was once again involved as he played a teasing ball across the face of goal for Grabban to prod home much to the delight of the travelling 1,409 Forest fans.

Jack Robinson was shown his marching orders for a second yellow card with 10 minutes left on the clock, but it had little impact on the remaining minutes as the Forest defence stood firm to claim a fantastic victory in the North East.